Additional Director Language,Art and Language Manjeet sharma honours Poets and other Guests at Kavi Sammelan held at historic Gaiety Theatre, Shimla Additional Director Language,Art and Language Manjeet sharma honours Poets and other Guests at Kavi Sammelan held at historic Gaiety Theatre, Shimla

Shimla's air was crisp and invigorating. It overtly carried the essence of winter. The night before thismanaloplay, gentle snowflakes blanketed the hill town in a sparkling white. This rare 'white Christmas,' long awaited by locals, tourists, and a stream of visitors alike, had finally arrived, infusing the streets with joy and exuberance.

Outside Gaiety Theatre—the cultural hub of Shimla—the day chilled by the season’s touch was colder than most. One could feel a frosty breath like a gift. The natural beauty had indeed painted the town in shimmering winter hues.

Inside, the poets, a few veterans of their verses, had arrived from all over Himachal, its farthest corners like Chamba and Sirmaur, for the ‘Kavi Sammelan’ on the call from the State's department of Language, Art, and Culture.

The Intersection Of Poetry And News In The Times Of War

BY Outlook Web Desk

But behind their words, there was a deep silence—the pain of those shattered by unending war.

“Today, as we gather in cosy rooms or outside to celebrate Christmas—watching the vibrant colours of the ongoing Winter Carnival at Shimla’s ‘The Ridge’ or hearing the midnight bells of Christ Church—pause and think of those torn apart by war, bombed, and left in unmarked graves, with no one to mourn their deaths,” said Devkanya Thakur, a young poet and filmmaker, in her Hindi poem ‘Palestine Refugee Camps’.

Under the numb sky,

In a Palestine refugee camp,

With their children in the lap,

Are women sitting in grief

On the front page of the newspaper,

still seem alive,

Here in the silence of this,

Their screams are echoing !!!

Kamayani Vashisth, a principal of Shimla’s JLN College of Fine Arts, shared her thoughts in her poem, In the Time of War.

It goes as;

“For once, stop scrolling through reels of fantasy

or shorts of celebrity bosoms

Pakistan, on the other hand, are behind India in second place, with eight points to their name, and also beat hosts China 5-1 in their most recent fixture. 

After losing to India 8-1 in their last encounter, Malaysia were desperate for a win, and showed immense character to fight it out against Japan after they were a goal down after the first half.

and starlet arses

For once

stop

flipping through unending options

of candy coloured pumps

and bling sprinkled first copies

of Jimmy Choo dreams…. “

To The Murdered Children: Poems For Palestine

BY Fedaa Zeyad

The poets’ voices quivered as they invoked the pain of displaced souls, wandering endlessly with no place to call home. Their words flowed not only from pens but from hearts, broken by the sorrow they recounted.

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But among the audience were poets who had witnessed the ever-changing seasons of life, having weathered countless experiences—both joyous and sorrowful—that shaped them inside and out. They warmed-up the session by diving into themes drawn from the vast expanse of nature and the intricate fabric of society.

Yes, 'Ghosts tales' also came alive in the poem recited by an acclaimed writer. 

Two versatile and veteran poetesses from Mandi, Hari Priya and Rupeshwari Devi, both fluent in Pahari and Hindi, took the stage to highlight the voices of women, nature, and the traditional folk of the region. Hari Priya recited her poem, "Draupadi ka Antardwand," while Rupeshwari Devi performed Mandi’s traditional song, ‘Chhinje’—a folk form depicting the changing seasons in the mountains.

At least six talented poetesses energised the session with their powerful recitations, with one using her platform to address important gender issues. A poet hailing from Chamba shared poignant reflections on the supreme sacrifices made by those serving at the borders.

Eminent writer S.R. Harnote, in addition to his poignant poem on how technology and social media have affected emotional connections in today's world, also recited a couple of lines about the impact of climate change on mountain rivers that are drying up.

He said:

There was a village, there was no river

Now there is a river but no village.

***

The rivalries are bent on ensuring that nothing old remains,

That child still considers Grandfather as a horse.

***

There is a lot of water in the eyes these days.

Ask the river why it cries.

***

Dhara Saraswati, Chief Programme Officer at All India Radio (AIR), captivated the audience with her three powerful poems, each delving into profound human values and the intricate relationships that define life.

In addition to Hindi, Pahari, and English, there were also notable poets from Urdu and Sanskrit. Young poet Adhiraj presented his English poem titled Chicken Burger from Krishna Bakers.

The event was overseen by Manjeet Sharmamanaloplay, a senior Himachal Administrative Officer and Additional Director at the Department of Language, Art, and Culture, and was anchored by Atma Rajan, a noted poet.